RAFAH, Palestinian Territories — Dozens of Gazans supplied prayers on Monday, the primary day of Ramadan, in the midst of the ruins of a mosque hit by an Israeli air strike simply days in the past.
Standing in rows earlier than a prayer chief with their palms folded, the Palestinian males had been coming into a fasting month in contrast to any that they had skilled earlier than.
Many of these not attending prayers had been out within the streets searching for no matter meals they might discover for his or her households dwelling in makeshift camps throughout the war-ravaged territory.
“I wish the planes would bomb me and I die,” mentioned Zaki Hussein Abu Mansur, as soon as the proud proprietor of a home he had constructed for his household in Khan Yunis—the place Israeli forces are engaged in a sweeping floor operation towards Hamas militants.
“It is better to die than live this life,” the 63-year-old informed AFP.
“Sometimes we see that the things that we need are in the market but we can’t buy them.”
Deprivation is regular in Gaza this Ramadan. Markets in Rafah are brief on meals gadgets and few shops have qatayef, a dessert historically bought throughout Ramadan.
The brilliant lights and decorations that normally adorn streets through the fasting month are obviously absent, although some stalls show Ramadan lanterns.
“We can’t even afford vegetables, let alone fruit,” mentioned Maisa al-Balbissi, a 39-year-old displaced from northern Gaza and now sheltering in Rafah.
“Everything is too expensive. My children and I are unable to buy anything. Prices of even the simplest items have skyrocketed,” the mother-of-two informed AFP by her tent.
‘Don’t really feel pleasure’
Palestinians are observing Ramadan this yr amid the relentless navy marketing campaign launched by Israel in response to Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 assault, which resulted within the deaths of round 1,160 folks, principally civilians, in line with an AFP tally primarily based on official Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive, geared toward eliminating Hamas, has killed at the very least 31,112 folks, principally ladies and kids, in line with the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry.
For these compelled to remain in overcrowded camps for the displaced, the grim actuality of meals shortages and unhygienic dwelling circumstances has dampened the holy month’s festive temper.
Around 1.5 million folks have sought refuge in Rafah, in line with the United Nations, largely with out entry to meals, water and medicines.
“I suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems,” mentioned Abu Mansur, describing his every day battle to search out medicines.
“I cannot eat canned food items.”
Despite Israel and Egypt’s long-running blockade of the Gaza Strip, in earlier years the products wanted for Ramadan had been nonetheless obtainable.
“This Ramadan is different from last year when everything to do with Ramadan was available—be it electricity, food, water,” mentioned Abdelrahman Ashur, 19.
“Nothing is available anymore. We don’t feel that joy. Every Ramadan we used to be at home and now we are sitting in tents that we built with our own hands.”
‘Real check’ coming
As the solar rose on the primary day of Ramadan, smoke from air strikes was seen over Rafah.
Awni al-Kayyal, 50, mentioned he noticed ambulances carrying lifeless our bodies as quickly as he awakened.
“The start of Ramadan has been sad and covered in darkness, with the smell of blood and stench everywhere… I woke up in my tent and started crying at our situation,” he informed AFP.
Late on Sunday, worshippers carried out night prayers at Al-Hadi mosque, broken in an Israeli strike.
Its traditional Islamic arches are actually chipped and cracked, whereas the concrete columns supporting the ceiling inside are dangerously askew.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run authorities press workplace, Israeli forces have focused greater than 500 mosques because the starting of the struggle, with 220 of them destroyed.
Meanwhile, in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, fears of clashes throughout Ramadan prevail amongst Palestinians.
Every yr, tens of 1000’s of Muslims carry out Ramadan prayers on the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third-holiest web site in Islam.
This yr Hamas has known as on “our people” to mobilize and march in the direction of Al-Aqsa from the beginning of Ramadan.
“For now it’s more or less quiet. We will see on Friday,” mentioned Ali, a resident of the Old City, referring to Friday prayers, when massive congregations collect on the mosque. “That will be [the] real test,” he mentioned. — AFP
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
